Device for putting on stockings



w. MaCLAUcHL'AN DEVICE FOR PUTTING oN sTooKINGs March 25, 1958 Filed July 16,' 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 United States. at@

'2,828,051 y t DEVICE non PUTTING oN sTocKrNGs william Mammalian, Hants, N. Y.

i Application July 16, 1956, Serial No. 597,962

` 1 claims. (cl. 223-111) The present invention relates to a novel device for putting on stockings. More particularly, it relates to a novel device especially suited for aiding invalids or other people incapable of bending in the actof putting on stockings, whether the stocking extends above or below the knee. Y Y

VIt is generally recognized that the physical condition of invalids will be affected in direct proportion to their ability to lead normal or relatively normal lives. With invalid women, particularly, the ability to wear conventional stockingshas` a considerable effect on the morale of the patient. t

To this' end, much time and effort has been expended by family and hospital staffs in putting hose on individuals who are incapableof bending their bodies or knees and thus cannot properly position their toes in the front of the stocking, the rst and basic step inputting on stockings.

Efforts have been made at nding a device which will permittheV invalid'alone to perform thisduty for the multiple purpose ofmaking the individual feel less helpless, reducing' the expenses for care, and reducing the amount of work required of already overtaxed hospital staffs.

The few devices which have been proposed for this purpose have suffered from certain major shortcomings which has mitigated against their adoption by either the individuals involvedor the institutions caring for such individuals, so that at present the invalids must either avail themselves of the services of others ormust do without wearing stockings. One of the disadvantages attending these prior art devices resides inthe fact that they place a great stress on the stocking fabric. In addition, they require a certain amount of mobility on the part of the user if the stockings are to be properly fitted. Finally, the construction is such as to create snags and tears.

Itis accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel device for putting on stockings which can be used with ease by individuals incapable of bending.

It is a further object of the invention to Vprovide a device of the character described which can be used with l nylon or other hose without fear of creating runs due to sharp edges or points. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which does not place an undue strain on the stocking.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which is comfortable to use and which is compact so that it can be stored when not in use and will not ocupy a great deal of space, which requirement is especially important in hospital wards where the patient has ICC Y The side members are provided with humps so that the stockings can be brought over the front of the base with the front of the base at the tip of the stocking foot. The top of the stocking is lodged over the hump so that it will not fall down.

A pair of manipulating handles are attached to the side members and a pair of webs are attached to the handles, the webs carrying garters at their ends. The garters are attached to the top of the socking and the foot slid along the base until it reaches the front of the stocking. The handles may be used to stretch the stocking so as to facilitate entry of the foot. l When the toes are propertly positioned, the handles are closed at least partially and the base together with the side members are withdrawn from the stockings, leaving the stocking on the foot. The tapers of the side members and base facilitate this withdrawal. Then by pulling up on the webs the stocking will be pulled up the leg.`

drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel device;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the device with the side members pivoted outwardly;

Fig. 3 is va sectional view taken along' line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing how the stocking is placed on the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view showing how the foot of the useris inserted into the stocking which is held open by the device through use of the handles;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the foot and device shown in Fig. 5 with the stocking shown in section for a more clear understanding; and

Fig. 7 is a view showing the base withdrawn from the stocking and the stocking being pulled up by the Vwebs or straps.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the novel device comprises a base 11 approximately equal in length to a foot and tapered toward its front end. The

v base 11 is provided with a foam rubber layer 12 and a fabric cover 13. A pair 0f aligned hinges 14 are provided on either side of the base 11, the ends of the hinges 14 being secured to the base 11 by rivets 15.

An approximately triangular wire member 16 is connected to each side of the base l1` as follows: the first leg 17 extends through a pair of aligned hinges 14 and y is thus pivoted to the base; the second leg 18 projectsl from the base 11 at the rear thereof; the third leg 19 extends between the ends of the first and seondlegs 1,7, L

Paienfed. Mar. 25, ey

18. Each third leg 19 is bowed slightly outward at 19a and is provided with an intermediate hump 19b.

A pair of wooden handles 20 is connected to members 16 by having the ends of legs 18, 19 sunk into the handles. A fabric web or strap 21 is secured to each handle 20 by tacks 22, the webs extending at least to the humps 19b. The end of each web 21 is provided with a garter 23, capable of being attached to the top of a stocking in conventional manner.

In use, the operatorriirst sees to it that the handles are in the position shown in Fig; 4. (close to each other) and fastens the garters to the top ofthe stocking 24. The stocking 24 is then brought over theA base 11 riding along legs 19 of members 16 until it lodges beyond humps 19b. It is noted that in this position the heel of the base 11-is not covered by the stocking and theV excess stocking is folded back toward the toe so that it will be out of the way. l

The operator then separates the handles- Ztl whichwill serve to stretch the stockings if not sutiicientlylarge. In addition, this increases the width betweenthe'- portion 19a of members 16 to accommodate the full width of the foot. The operator then introduces her foot into the folded over portion of the stocking until it reachesV the forward portion of the stocking, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. The base 11 is then withdrawn from the stockingY 24 leaving the operators foot properly positioned in the forward position of the stocking.. The forward taper of base 11 and the incline of legs 19 facilitates this withdrawal. The operator then grasps they webs 21 as shown in Fig. 7 and pulls the stocking uprinto the desired position. The garters 23 are then unfastenedl from the stocking and the operation is complete.

Thus the only portions of the novel device whichl come into contact with the stocking during use are the base 11 and the side members 16 lup until the hump 191i. These portions are made smooth without anyY sharp or pointed surfaces so that they will notv catch in the stockings and create snags or runs. To this end, the bottom of the base 11 is rounded smoothly and the hinges 14 do not extend laterally as far as the sides of the base. The

forward apex of the side members 16V does not comerto,

a point but rather is curved for the same purpose. Even the exposed heads of rivets 15 which hold the hinges 14 to the base are rounded. The foam rubber. pad 12 and fabric covering 13 on the base `protect Ithe'. footga'nd stocking 24 from contact with the hingesV 14 and ayid the necessity for having. `to recess the hinges in the top of the base. If desired the fabric covering 131fcan coinpletely enclose the sides and bottomof the base as well as' the top, in which event the base and hingeswill' not have to be as smooth since `they will be incapable of con-i.

tacting the stocking.

The base and handles are conveniently made of wood although they could be made from metal or plastic. The hinges and side members are preferably made of metal although they might also be fabricatedfrom plastic. It will be noted that the side members could be Vmade of sheet,v material rather than ofwire but open wire'is preferred since there'is less contact with the footof .the

user, an important consideration since many offthe usersv will be suffering from feet conditions. Of course if Vthe side members are closed sheets, Vthe hinging will beV modied but the result will be the same.

Various changes and modifications anfbe madeV withef out departing from the spirit and scope .of the present invention and it isY intende'dtthat such obvious ychanges' and modications be embraced by the annexed claims. p VWhatlclaimis:` Y Y l. A device for putting`l on Va stocking comprising substantially flat elongated base adapted'for! placement thereon ofa persons foot; ay pair-of members extend-v ing upwardly from the sides o f'saidbase and running'a'pA proximately vfrom the front to the rear of said base, said members each being provided with a hump intermediate the front and rear of said base, a pair of rigid elongated elements respectively connected at one end with said members and extending upwardly andV rearwardly of the rear end of said base, the upper ends of said elements being operative as handles for controlling placement of said base, a pair of elongated Webs respectively extending from upper portions of said elements approximately to said members, and means for removably attaching the extending ends of said webs to a stocking'.

2. A device for putting on a stocking comprising a flat elongated base no wider at its front than at its rear and adapted for placement thereon of a persons foot, a pair of members hingedtoI said base at the longitudinal sides thereof and swingable towards and away from each other above said base, each of said members extending upwardly fromthe fron-t of said basey to4 they rear thereof and being providedwith an intermediate hump, a pair of rigid elongated elements respectively connected, at one Aend with said members adjacent the rear of said base` and extending upwardly and rearwardly of the rear of said base, the upper ends of Vsaid elements being operative as handles for controlling placement of said base, a pair of webs respectively connected at one end with upper f portions of said elements and extending at least to said humps, and means for-removably attaching the extending ends'of said webs to a stocking.- p

3. A device. as defined in claim 2,`wherein each of said members is approximately triangular, the first leg of the triangle` extending along a side of said base, the second leg projecting awayrfromsaid base, andl the third leg connecting the ends of the iirst andl second legs and being provided with an intermediate hump, each element being connected to a respectivemember approximately at Y the joinder between the second and third legs.

4. A device as delined in claim 3, wherein each third leg is bowed slightly outward away from the other third leg.

5. A device for putting onfv a stocking, comprising a substantially Hat base approximatelyV the length of a footand tapered forwardly, a pairof approximately triangular wire members, the first leg of each member extendingy along a side of said base, the Vsecond leg projecting away from said base adjacentthe rear thereof, andthe third leg connecting the first leg adjacent the front of said base with the second leg and being provided with an intermediate hump, each of said first legs being pivotally connected to a respective side of'said base for rotation about its longitudinal axis for swinging said wire members towards, and away from each other above said base, a pair of rigid elongated elements respectively connected at one end with said wire members rearwardly of said humps and extending upwardly and Vrearwardly of the said base, a pair of ilexible webs respectively connected at one end to said elements at positions Vremote from said.

baseV and extending atleast Vto said' humps, and a garter at the other end of each of said webs.

6. A device as delined in claim 5, Vincluding a soft pad on said base approximately equal in thickness to the diameter ofthe wire of Asaid members, and a fabric covering for said pad.

7. A` device for putting Ona stocking, comprising a smooth substantially-flat base approximately the length of a foot and tapered forwardly, a pair of aligned hinges positioned on said base adjacent' each side thereof at the front and rear of said. base, a pair of approximately triangular wire members, the firstlleg of each member extending through a respective pair ofsaid aligned hinges, the second leg projecting awayY from said base vadjacent the rear thereof, and. the third 16s @Heading from the front end of said first leg toward the end of said second leg, said third leg being provided with an intermediate hump and being bowed yslightly outward away from the .s other third leg, a foam rubber pad on said base between their ends remote 4from said wire members and extending said third legs, a covering for said pad, a pair of rigid beyond the humps of said members, and a pair of garters elongated elements, the meeting ends of the Second respectively attached to the other ends of said webs.

and third legs or each member being connected to one References Cited in the me of this Patent end of each of sa1d elements, whereby said wire members 5 can be pivoted relative to said base by operating the other UNITED STATES PATENTS end of said elements operating as handles, `a pair of webs 1,315,096 Deiley Sept. 2, 1919 connected at one end to said elongated elements adjacent 2,443,115 Park June 8, 1948 

